Davis to hang up his posterboards for good

Longtime executive director of the Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation and the turnaround force behind the flourishing New Bedford Business Park, Tom Davis has said he will retire from the position he has held for the past 15 years.

NEW BEDFORD — Longtime executive director of the Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation and the turnaround force behind the flourishing New Bedford Business Park, Tom Davis has said he will retire from the position he has held for the past 15 years.

Davis said in March that while there was no specific date set, he intends to move on.

But not move out.

"I'm not moving to Florida," Davis said during the March 5 annual meeting of the industrial foundation in which members gave him a standing ovation. "I really love living and working in New Bedford."

Davis was the park's first full-time executive director, coming on at a time when the park was struggling and two of its largest employers were considering moving. He started in May and by July had drafted a turnaround plan. He had board approval for that plan a month later.

At the time, the park hadn't seen a sale in 10 years, Davis said.

That soon changed. Davis' efforts resulted in the number of park companies growing from 18 to 45, and jobs increasing from 1,500 to 4,500, half from new companies and half from existing companies who expanded.

In his meeting comments, Mayor Jon Mitchell said Davis leaves a distinguished legacy, having made the business park more relevant and professional.